Mercy hospitals across the Midwest are now offering new mothers a unique opportunity to donate their placentas for medical research and to assist others in need. Through the “Beginnings and Blessings” program, Mercy patients can opt to donate their birth tissues, including the placenta, to support scientific studies and help with various medical treatments.
During pregnancy, the placenta plays a crucial role in sustaining life by supplying oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby, removing waste from the baby’s blood, and passing on immunity from mother to child. However, after birth, the placenta is often discarded as medical waste, despite its proven potential in treating conditions like wounds and burns.
Dr. Margaret Marcrander, chief of staff at Mercy St. Louis and practicing OB/GYN, highlighted the patient interest in tissue donation. “Our patients expressed a desire to help others by donating tissues, like the placenta, once they are no longer needed. By offering this option, we provide a way for our patients to have fulfilling birth plans while contributing to the well-being of others,” Dr. Marcrander explained.
The placenta’s specialized tissue layers have shown promising results in treating chronic, non-healing wounds, which can significantly impact a patient’s life. Dr. David German, a wound care and plastic surgeon at Mercy Hyperbaric and Wound Care in St. Louis, shared, “The placenta contains tissues that promote healing. I’ve seen dramatic improvements in chronic wounds, as placental tissue can help create skin grafts that lead to reduced wound size and faster healing.”
Newborn tissue donation is offered at no cost to patients and has the potential to help up to 100 individuals. Mercy hospitals in Joplin and Springfield, Missouri, are set to launch the program later this month, with hospitals in Arkansas and Oklahoma scheduled to join the initiative this summer.
One participant, Cardin, shared her experience: “It was easy. It didn’t cost me anything, and all I had to do was sign a form. It was a simple, good deed to help others.”
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